I slapped 10% glycolic acid on my face for 30 straight nights. No breaks. No buffer.
My skin didn’t fall off — it actually got less annoying. The real test was day 14 when my chin started peeling like a sunburn and I almost quit.
Lumisqueal Glycolic Acid 10% Resurfacing Serum. $28 for 1oz. They claim “overnight texture transformation” — which is bullshit, but after a month I get it.
10% glycolic acid
Strong enough to work, not strong enough to ruin your week
No drying alcohols
Doesn’t feel like you’re dissolving your face — weirdly hydrating for an acid
One-drop consistency
Thick like a light oil, not watery. Stays where you put it.
Photo: ajie wp / Unsplash
It’s not just acid — there’s actual soothing stuff in here. The hero is glycolic at 10%, but the supporting cast does the heavy lifting for irritation.
- Glycolic Acid: Exfoliates dead surface cells — makes texture smoother by morning
- Panthenol: Calms the sting so you don’t wake up red
- Aloe Vera: Cooling base that stops it from burning on application
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Pumps moisture back in after the acid strips the top layer
Photo: Viva Luna Studios / Unsplash
Slick going on — like rubbing cold honey on your face. Dries in 45 seconds flat. No stickiness, no film.
Week 2: my forehead turned into a flaky mess. Thought I broke my barrier. Kept going. By week 3, the flakes stopped and my skin looked like I’d been sleeping 10 hours a night. Weird how it gets worse before better.
Photo: Ali Pazani / Unsplash
Texture is noticeably smoother — those tiny bumps around my jaw? Gone. Pores are smaller but not vanished (nothing does that). The glow is real but subtle — you won’t look like a lightbulb. Dark spots from old breakouts faded maybe 40%.
Photo: El S / Unsplash
It’s a solid acid serum that actually delivers on texture — but don’t expect miracles before week 3, and don’t be a hero if your skin starts screaming.